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purpose； now as a preacher becoming excited； that is to say； an actor
ever maintaining a thesis； striking an attitude and aiming at effects。
Finally； with the exception of the 〃Confessions〃 his style soon
wearies us； it is too studied； and too constantly overstrained。 The
author is always the author； and he communicates the defect to his
personages。 His Julie argues and descants for twenty successive pages
on dueling； on love； on duty； with a logical completeness； a talent
and phrases that would do honor to an academical moralist。
Commonplace exists everywhere； general themes； a raking fire of
abstractions and arguments； that is to say； truths more or less empty
and paradoxes more or less hollow。 The smallest detail of fact； an
anecdote； a trait of habit； would suit us much better； and hence we of
to day prefer the precise eloquence of objects to the lax eloquence of
words。 In the eighteenth century it was otherwise； to every writer
this oratorical style was the prescribed ceremonial costume； the
dress…coat he had to put on for admission into the company of select
people。 That which seems to us affectation was then only proper； in a
classic epoch the perfect period and the sustained development
constitute decorum； and are therefore to be observed。 … It must be
noted； moreover； that this literary drapery which； with us of the
present day； conceals truth did not conceal it to his contemporaries；
they saw under it the exact feature； the perceptible detail no longer
detected by us。 Every abuse； every vice； every excess of refinement
and of culture； all that social and moral disease which Rousseau
scourged with an author's emphasis； existed before them under their
own eyes； in their own breasts； visible and daily manifested in
thousands of domestic incidents。 In applying satire they had only to
observe or to remember。 Their experience completed the book； and；
through the co…operation of his readers； the author possessed power
which he is now deprived of。 If we were to put ourselves in their
place we should recover their impressions。 His denunciations and
sarcasms； the harsh things of all sorts he says of the great； of
fashionable people and of women； his rude and cutting tone； provoke
and irritate； but are not displeasing。 On the contrary； after so many
compliments； insipidities and petty versification all this quickens
the blunted taste； it is the sensation of strong common wine after
long indulgence in orgeat and preserved citron。 Accordingly； his
first discourse against art and literature 〃lifts one at once above
the clouds。〃 But his idyllic writings touch the heart more powerfully
than his satires。 If men listen to the moralist that scolds them they
throng in the footsteps of the magician that charms them； especially
do women and the young adhere to one who shows them the promised land。
All accumulated dissatisfactions； weariness of the world； ennui； vague
disgust； a multitude of suppressed desires gush forth； like
subterranean waters； under the sounding line that for the first time
brings them to light。 Rousseau with his soundings struck deep and
true through his own trials and through genius。 In a wholly
artificial society where people are drawing room puppets； and where
life consists in a graceful parade according to a recognized model； he
preaches a return to nature； independence； earnestness； passion； and
effusion； a manly； active； ardent and happy existence in the open air
and in sunshine。 What an opening for restrained faculties； for the
broad and luxurious fountain ever bubbling in man's breast； and for
which their nice society provides no issue！ … woman of the court is
familiar with love as then practiced； simply a preference； often only
a pastime； mere gallantry of which the exquisite polish poorly
conceals the shallowness； coldness and； occasionally； wickedness； in
short； adventures； amusements and personages as described by
Crébillion jr。 One evening； about to go out to the opera ball； she
finds the 〃Nouvelle Helo？se〃 on her toilet…table； it is not surprising
that she keeps her horses and footmen waiting from hour to hour； and
that at four o'clock in the morning she orders the horses to be
unharnessed； and then passes the rest of the night in reading； and
that she is stifled with her tears； for the first time in her life she
finds a man that loves＇39＇。 In like manner if you would comprehend
the success of 〃Emile；〃 call to mind the children we have described；
the embroidered； gilded； dressed…up； powdered little gentlemen； decked
with sword and sash； carrying the chapeau under the arm； bowing；
presenting the hand； rehearsing fine attitudes before a mirror；
repeating prepared compliments； pretty little puppets in which
everything is the work of the tailor； the hairdresser； the preceptor
and the dancing…master； alongside of these； little ladies of six
years； still more artificial； bound up in whalebone； harnessed in a
heavy skirt composed of hair and a girdle of iron； supporting a head…
dress two feet in height； so many veritable dolls to which rouge is
applied； and with which a mother amuses herself each morning for an
hour and then consigns them to her maids for the rest of the day＇40＇。
This mother reads 〃Emile。〃 It is not surprising that she immediately
strips the poor little thing； and determines to nurse her next child
herself。 … It is through these contrasts that Rousseau is strong。
He revealed the dawn to people who never got up until noon； the
landscape to eyes that had thus far rested only on palaces and
drawing…rooms； a natural garden to men who had never promenaded
outside of clipped shrubs and rectilinear borders； the country； the
family； the people； simple and endearing pleasures； to townsmen made
weary by social avidity； by the excesses and complications of luxury；
by the uniform comedy which； in the glare of hundreds of lighted
candles； they played night after night in their own and in the homes
of others＇41＇。 An audience thus disposed makes no clear distinction
between pomp and sincerity； between sentiment and sentimentality。
They follow their author as one who makes a revelation； as a prophet；
even to the end of his ideal world； much more through his
exaggerations than through his discoveries； as far on the road to
error as on the pathway of truth。
These are the great literary powers of the century。 With inferior
successes； and through various combinations； the elements which
contributed to the formation of the leading talents also form the
secondary talents； like those below Rousseau； … Bernardin de St。
Pierre； Raynal； Thomas； Marmontel； Mably； Florian； Dupaty； Mercier；
Madame de Sta？l； and below Voltaire； … the lively and piquant
intellects of Duclos； Piron； Galiani； President Des Brosses； Rivarol；
Champfort； and to speak with precision； all other talents。 Whenever a
vein of talent； however meager； peers forth above the ground it is for
the propagation and carry